One dead, 2 injured, in SR41 crash

Fire and EMS from multiple agencies work to reach victims of a crash that involved a pickup truck and a semi that both crashed into a home in Alcony on Tuesday evening.

Mike Ullery | Miami Valley Today

ALCONY — A crash involving a semi-tractor/trailer and a pickup truck resulted in one fatality and two injuries on Tuesday evening.

First responders were called to State Route 41 at Alcony-Conover Road just before 11 p.m. Tuesday on the report of the crash and vehicles into a house.

Responding units found a semi-tractor and trailer had impacted a 2014 Ford F-150 pickup truck. The force of the crash caused both trucks to impact a garage and a home, causing heavy damage to both structures. A gas meter was severed, causing a natural gas leak that was a source of concern for rescuers as they worked to reach victims.

The driver of the semi, Louis Blackshear, 43, of Patasakala, Ohio, was transported by EMS to Kettering’s Troy Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the pickup truck, Ty N. Thomas, 35, of Piqua, was trapped for more than 30 minutes before he could be removed from the vehicle. He was transported to Miami Valley Hospital by CareFlight.

A passenger in the pickup truck, Kimberly, S. Thomas, 38, of Piqua was pronounced dead at the scene by Miami County Coroner Dr. William Ginn.

Miami County Sheriff Dave Duchak said that Thomas and his wife were so badly trapped in the pickup truck that rescuers had to use “mechanical tools” to free them from the wreckage.

Damage to the home was so severe that deputies called an engineer to inspect the damage and advise on how to remove the trucks without the house collapsing.

Duchak said that reports from deputies indicate that the semi was westbound on State Route 41 when the pickup driven by Ty Thomas pulled into the path of the semi. The semi was pulling a loaded trailer and the impact drove the pickup and semi into the garage and house.

Due to the added dangers from the gas leak and damage to the structures, additional support was called on to assist. Among the agencies working the crash scene were New Carlisle Fire Department, New Carlisle Medics, Troy Fire Department engine and medics, Christiansburg Fire Company, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Fire, and Elizabeth Township medics.

Initial reports show no indication that speed, alcohol, or drugs played a factor in the crash, according to Duchak.

“At this point,” said Duchak, “it appears to be a case of driver inattention.”

The Miami County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Team continues to investigate.

Fire and EMS from multiple agencies work to reach victims of a crash that involved a pickup truck and a semi that both crashed into a home in Alcony on Tuesday evening.

https://www.dailycall.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2019/12/web1_120319mju_crash_sr41_fatal-2.jpgFire and EMS from multiple agencies work to reach victims of a crash that involved a pickup truck and a semi that both crashed into a home in Alcony on Tuesday evening. Mike Ullery | Miami Valley Today